Pale-headed Brushfinch

Pale-headed Brushfinch (Atlapetes pallidiceps) is an endemic and endangered species from Ecuador. It has a global population of about 250 individuals that can be found only at Yunguilla Reserve, a property of Fundacion Jocotoco.

The species was rediscovered at Yunguilla Reserve in 1999 with a population of 40 couples. For these reason, UICN categorized it as a Critically Endangered species. Owing to conservation actions of Fundacion Jocotoco improving its habitat and controlling invasive species, Atlapetes pallidiceps was downgraded to Endangered by the UICN.

The main threats that this species has to face is the parasitism in its nests by Shiny Cowbird (Molothrus bonariensis), this parasitism significantly affects its reproductive success. Other threat is the forest fires in its habitat.

Atlapetes pallidiceps is one of the few species that has been recovered from Critically Endangered category. Fundacion Jocotoco makes continuous monitoring of this species and supports conservation projects to benefit this rare bird.

Fig. 1. Pale-headed Brushfinch population tendency at Reserva Yunguilla. Gray circles represent the estimated population size without conservation actions since 2003. White circles represent the actual population size derived from a territory mapping of the species.